The Magic Circle [Mass Market Paperback]

Katherine Neville (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 30, 1999

When her cousin is slain by an unknown assassin, Ariel Behn becomes the sole heir to a family legacy: a sinister cache of manuscripts that thrusts her into the deadly center of international intrigue--and an age-old enigma that spans the centuries. Whoever assembles and interprets the cryptic clues of this ancient mystery will possess the power to control the fate of the world.

What strange powers lie hidden within the manuscripts? Splashed against a lavish backdrop that sweeps from the rise of the Roman Empire to the fall of the Berlin Wall, THE MAGIC CIRCLE finds one woman standing at the center of it all: Ariel Behn. As she races across continents to reveal the dark secrets buried in her family's past, she begins to unlock the chilling truth of the coming millennium. . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Neville's reach exceeds her grasp by a long shot in her chaotic third novel (after The Eight and A Calculated Risk), a bewildering attempt to blend historical fiction, New Age adventure and modern techno-thriller. Utah nuclear technician Ariel Behn receives a set of mysterious manuscripts from her Native American cousin Sam, who has narrowly survived their attempted theft. As possessor of the scrolls, Ariel finds her life in similar danger, especially after her company sends her to Russia with handsome, mysterious Wolfgang Hauser. During a torrid affair with Wolfgang, Ariel comes to suspect that he may be after the scrolls himself. At the same time, various members of her glamorous, far-flung family inform her that Hitler, Genghis Khan and the ancient Romans all sought the scrolls, which seem to hold the key to a secret power grid beneath the earth. Alternating family history with thorny historical passages, Neville brings the narrative back to Utah for a ludicrous wilderness showdown among the scrolls' pursuers. Neville has buried a decent story in so many expository layers of far-fetched historical gibberish and New Age nonsense that even her most devoted readers may find themselves exasperated. Author tour.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Nuclear scientist Ariel Behn's beloved cousin, Sam, is murdered, and Ariel learns that she is heir to a cache of manuscripts that may unlock the secrets not only of the past but also of the coming millennium. This promising premise allows the action to move back and forth in time and place, jumping from first-century Rome and the Holy Land up to the late 1980s and on to the contemporary world. There is something here for thriller fans and for those who enjoy historical fiction. But Neville weighs down her book with, first, the complex Behn family tree and, second, a head-whirling miasma of mythology, astronomy, religion, and geography--all fascinating millennial topics in themselves but never quite successfully integrated with the story here. Nor does the ending offer the payoff that has kept readers going through more than 550 pages. Still, individual sections of the book are compelling, and fans of that emerging subgenre--the millennial thriller--will want to add this one to their reading list. Ilene Cooper --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (January 30, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345423135
• ISBN-13: 978-0345423139
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.2 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (309 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #230,719 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in 1945, Katherine Neville has had an extraordinary life, living in almost every state in North America. Aside from her work as an international bestselling author, she has worked as an international computer executive, a painter, photographer, and a waitress. Katherine lives in Virginia, Washington and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Visit the author's website at: www.katherineneville.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magic is a thorough understatement--recommended highly, October 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Magic Circle (Mass Market Paperback)

Be prepared for a whirlwind of ideas, surprises, time jumping, and a family tree that has branches so heavily overlapping that you need to note it down--have a pad and pen ready!

But truly, the book has a unique flavor all its own. I've read it as well as the other comments, and I'm frankly surprised by those who think that Katherine Neville is trying to keep a 'trend' that is supposed to be a 'winning formula'. Writers have a style, and Neville's style of taking jumps from time to time is very well plotted and maneveured. It can keep you spellbound. If someone says the book is boring, I hope curious readers will take my word for it that it is absolutely not.

I can't say enough about 'The Magic Circle'--history buffs, and all those who love to speculate about certain historical figures, will find them coming to life in all kinds of ways and presented in a different light altogether. This story is full of subtle nuances of human psychology, intelligence--oh dear me yes, is it ever intelligence--power, family, and love. Lust plays its role, but it's not what the story evolves around, and I agree completely that Neville has produced 'quality fiction'.

Doubtless for some it may seem that Neville has written out of her time (no pun intended). I prefer to call her work timeless.

26 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Needs a second read...., January 10, 2000

By 

Karen Bierman Hirsh (Greenwich, CT) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Magic Circle (Mass Market Paperback)

While The Eight is by far my favorite book I waited to read The Magic Circle until I had the time to devote to it. Good thing I did as the plot is even more tricky than The Eight.

While the general plot is set up in a similar way to The Eight the topic is vastly different and somewhat confusing. The dual story is set in and around the time of Jesus and then interwoven with modern day. I would suggest keeping a pad and paper handy when reading this book as the myriad of characters can sometime be difficult to keep up with (as are the family relations of some of the characters).

Beyond the fact that it helps if you have a basic education in the birth of Christianity, the plot was interesting and the writing was excellent. It was interesting to see what the world might have been like during the life of Jesus as well as to see what he and his disciples and enemies might have thought about him (just know that this is not an overly religious book nor is Katherine making any judgments on any religion or religious person in The Magic Circle).

While some things seemed a little far fetched, I had to remind myself that The Magic Circle is fiction and that the author has artistic license. Katherine tends to write grand, vivid, sweeping descriptions and full bodied, interesting characters and she did not disappoint on that level.

All in all, I will read this book again but The Eight still remains her masterpiece - I doubt that The Magic Circle will ever have a following the way The Eight does - I guess that trying to re-use a magical idea rarely works twice.

I did like The Magic Circle, I guess I just need to remember that it is not The Eight and that I should not compare the two as much as I did the first time through this book. A definitely good read.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Neville's books surpass DaVinci Code, October 11, 2005

By 

Red Rock Bookworm (St. George Utah) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Magic Circle (Mass Market Paperback)

Katherine Neville is a truly gifted writer. Her books are well researched, paced to keep you turning the pages, and are definitely more "literate" than the offerings of most authors in this genre. If you thought the DaVinci Code was good, you'll think Magic Circle is great. After you read this one...try her book "The Eight". It's amazing!